Medical Services

Surgical Specialty Clinic

Experienced surgeons for a variety of needs

Surgery is one of the most significant decisions you can make, and during
these critical times, we are here to educate you about any procedural
needs. It's important to note that during our consultations, we always
take the time to discuss every possible option, including any non-surgical
treatments. Before and after surgery, we are here to provide guidance
and care to you and your family.

We believe in delivering the best quality surgical care. We believe you
should be treated with kindness and compassion. And we believe you should
be able to see a surgeon quickly when an issue arises, which is why we
are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays!

Common reasons to need a surgeon

While our surgeons are trained to treat a wide variety of issues, here
are the most common reasons for patients to visit a surgeon:

Appendix removal

Gallbladder removal

Hernia repair

Acid reflux

Weight loss (bariatric)

Vein injuries/disorders

Breast cancer/biopsies

Colon cancer

Hemorrhoids

Meet our team

All of our surgeons have a strong background in general surgery, plus special
areas of expertise.

Mustafa Alibhai - MD, FACS

General Surgery ○ Bariatric Surgery ○ Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Dr. Mustafa Alibhai attended Southern Methodist University where he obtained
his Bachelors of Science in Biology. He went to medical school and general
surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
in Dallas. Dr. Alibhai completed his fellowship at the Bariatric Medical
Institute of Texas in San Antonio. Dr. Alibhai has developed a practice
focusing on minimally invasive bariatric surgery and general surgery.

Ed Clifford - MD, FACS

General Surgery ○ Breast Cancer Surgery ○ Oncologic Surgery

Dr. Ed Clifford, FACS, specializes in general and oncologic surgery. He
provides his patients with the personalized, hands-on care that has become
the signature of the practice. Dr. Clifford’s training began with
an undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond in Virginia and
then medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
in Dallas. He conducted his medical internship and surgical training at
St. Paul University Hospital in Dallas. Through this, he developed a passion
for the challenges associated with breast cancer and oncologic surgery,
which continues to be a large part of his practice today.

Dr. Nathan Emerson completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University
and medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine. He then pursued
a general surgery residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas
where he was Chief Resident. Prior to joining Surgical Group of North
Texas, he practiced in Massachusetts for six years. Dr. Emerson has extensive
experience in evidence-based comprehensive hernia repair, including laparoscopic
and robotically assisted techniques. He is specially trained to perform
transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) for reflux.

Sina Matin - MD, FACS, FASMBS

General Surgery ○ Bariatric Surgery ○ Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Dr. Sina Matin has been on the leading edge of one of the highest growth
areas in the field of surgery—bariatric surgery. After receiving
his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Old Dominion University
in Virginia, Dr. Matin went on to receive his medical degree from the
Medical College of Virginia. He then completed his surgical residency
and research fellowship at the University of Texas in Galveston. He then
attended The Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Laparoscopic
Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Julio Rivera - MD, FACS

General Surgery ○ Bariatric Surgery ○ Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

An accomplished General Surgeon, Dr. Julio Rivera specializes in advanced
laparoscopic abdominal procedures and robotic surgery and has been performing
advanced laparoscopy for many years. Dr. Rivera received his undergraduate
degree in chemistry at Baylor University and went on to receive his medical
degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed his
surgical residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

Steve Schierling - MD, FACS

General Surgery ○ Vein Treatment

Dr. Schierling received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences
from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He then went
to medical school at Texas A&M University Health Science Center College
of Medicine in College Station, Texas. He completed his general surgery
residency at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. Dr.
Schierling is also one of a handful of surgeons in the DFW area that will
offer the Venaseal procedure to patients who suffer from varicose veins.
He also performs non-invasive treatments such as radiofrequency ablation
and sclerotherapy.

Shahid Shafi - MD, FACS

General Surgery

Dr. Shafi is a board certified General Surgeon and has been in practice
since 1998. He also serves as Medical Director at Baylor Scott & White
Quality Alliance, where he works on improving the quality of surgical
care. Dr. Shafi went to medical school at Aga Khan University in Pakistan,
and completed post-graduate training at the University of Pennsylvania,
Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry
of New Jersey.

Common questions about surgeons

Below are two common questions we receive:

What is a General Surgeon?

A fully trained surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, has gone
through years of training in an accredited residency program to learn
the specialized skills of a surgeon. A general surgeon is a specialist
who is trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with a broad spectrum
of surgical conditions affecting almost any area of the body.

The surgeon establishes the diagnosis and provides the preoperative, operative,
and postoperative care to patients. General surgeons have the knowledge
and technical skills to manage conditions that relate to the head and
neck, breast, skin and soft tissues, abdomen, extremities, and the gastrointestinal,
vascular, and endocrine systems.

What should I look for when selecting a surgeon?

A good sign of a U.S. surgeon’s competence is board certification,
meaning a surgeon holds certification by a surgical board that is approved
by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

When you choose a surgeon who is properly certified in a surgical specialty,
you are assured that he or she has completed years of residency training
in his or her specialty and has demonstrated knowledge and competence
by successfully completing a rigorous examination.

The letters F.A.C.S. (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) after
a surgeon's name are a further indication of a physician's qualifications.
Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have passed a comprehensive
evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated
their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct. This evaluation
is conducted according to national standards that were established to
ensure that patients receive the best possible surgical care.

We're here to help

If you would like to discuss any of your surgical options, we would love
to hear from you.